Sharing what makes all the struggles of writing worth it:
endofalonelystreetMay 15, 2018 at 4:46 PM
Hello,
Sorry for being a little lengthy, but I just wanted to write to you because your Five in a Bed series was very important to me. I started reading it when I was a teenager, way back when it was online on a certain kinky website, hehe. As a heterosexual girl, not only did I discover what a gay relationship could look and feel like, but also a different kind of configuration.
A couple years later, once I started college, I met my best friend. For three years he hid that he was gay and in a relationship with older men – and I discovered it inadvertedly. I admit at first I was shocked and worried for him (for reasons similar to the ones you describe with Danny: barely of legal age, financially dependant, abandoned by father so seeking another « daddy » figure etc), as well as hurt that he had hidden this from me, his best friend, so long. Then, I remembered your series that had struck me as a teenager, and somehow the fact that I had loved it so much and that it helped me imagine a little how such a relationship could work, enabled me to overcome my initial negative feelings right away. It truly helped me understand and appreciate my friend and the dynamics of his unconventional relationship. We made up fast and I told him about your series. He was very eager to read it. We were both very disappointed when I couldn't find it anymore. Now I guess you must have taken it down for publishing that year (about 2013/2014).
He regularly asked me if I had found the series, but my memory for names is terrible so I couldn't, and I was pretty sure it was lost for good. But a few days ago, somehow I randomly remembered the names of some of the characters and was so happy to finally find out Five in a Bed wasn't lost forever in internet limbo, but that you had published it! I'm very glad for you! And now I can finally show my friend ;^)
So thank you for your this very sweet and well written series, you helped me come to terms with something I would have taken much longer to understand. And how great that there is more to come
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WOW! What a lovely post to read. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing my stories have been important in someone's life. I'm excited to learn that your best friend will read my books. Although all my characters are flawed and my series was never intended to be a collection of "how to" books, I'm glad you were able to see all the love expressed through my writing. My characters maybe not be doing everything the "right" way, but their intentions are pure. Your post was perfect timing, as I'm getting ready to publish another book in the series. There is a scene in it where Ricky opens up to his therapist about his part in their unique relationship. It touches on many of the concerns you mentioned having for your dear friend. I hope that people continue to see that love can take many different forms and can be expressed in many different ways.
